Dr. Kate Lund has spent much of her career as a psychologist studying children and parenting. She's distilled much of what she's learned in her most recent book, Step Away: The Keys to Resilient Parenting. In this episode, she describes who she persevered during her own childhood challenges and offers great advice for how we can all remain resilient during these difficult times.

Chapters:

00:00 Overcoming Childhood Challenges Dr. Kate Lund, a clinical psychologist and author, shares her personal journey of growing up with hydrocephalus, including multiple surgeries and feeling different from her peers. Despite these difficulties, her family's support and their focus on 'what you can do' fostered an early sense of optimism and resilience within her.

03:32 Optimism and Parental Influence Dr. Lund discusses whether optimism is innate or learned, attributing her own glass-half-full perspective to her upbringing and her parents' positive attitudes. She shares a touching anecdote about her father, who, despite battling Parkinson's disease, taught her the importance of participation over perfection.

09:02 Journey to Psychology and Career Shift Kate reflects on her early interest in people and medical situations, which eventually led her to pursue psychology in college. After a White House internship, she realized that the fast-paced media world was not for her, solidifying her path toward a career in psychology where she could truly flourish.

11:58 The Pillars of Resilient Children Dr. Lund explains how her focus on parenting and resilience originated from her fellowship at Schreiner's Hospital, where she studied the impact of serious medical situations on children and their parents. She introduces her 'seven pillars of the resilient child,' emphasizing resilience as a foundational lifestyle for overall well-being.

15:00 Creating Optimism in Kids Discussing the societal trend of 'bubble wrapping' children, Dr. Lund advocates for building resilience to empower kids from the inside out. She emphasizes creating optimism by intentionally focusing on daily positive experiences, a practice she believes helps shift perspectives from negative self-talk to a more positive outlook.

19:22 Social Media's Impact on Parenting Dr. Lund addresses the significant impact of social media on parenting and children's well-being, particularly in exacerbating comparison and anxiety, using the college admissions process as an example. She stresses the importance of teaching children to understand their unique context and the curated reality often presented on social platforms.

25:49 Resilient Parenting and Authenticity Dr. Lund introduces her book, 'Step Away,' which focuses on parents creating space for their own well-being to better support their families. She discusses developing a resilient mindset by managing stress responses and fostering authentic human connections with children, emphasizing the importance of sharing personal challenges in a developmentally appropriate way.

33:40 Grit, Perseverance, and Letting Kids Learn Dr. Lund acknowledges the importance of grit, as popularized by Angela Duckworth, as a crucial component of resilience. She discusses the tough parental dilemma of when to intervene versus when to let children face consequences to foster learning and self-advocacy.

38:50 Fostering Optimism and Future Projects Dr. Lund reiterates the importance of the 'daily wins' exercise and helping children see possibilities beyond challenges to build lasting optimism. She concludes by discussing her new podcast, 'Resilient Parenting with Dr. Kate,' which complements her latest book and offers insights for parents.

Clinical Psychologist and Author Dr. Kate Lund Discusses How to Instill Optimism in Children and More Great Advice From Her Latest Book, Step Away: The Keys to Resilient Parenting